June 2016 – Interfaith unity for tolerance

Why Muhammad Ali is the Greatest Sportsman of all time – by Zain Ulabideen

Muhammad Ali was an award-winning boxer who is considered to be the greatest boxer of all time. He also said that himself a lot, even to the point where he had his own cartoon called “I am the greatest”. But what made him the greatest sportsman? That is why I’m writing this essay. So what did make him the greatest? For that we have to look at his life…

Muhammad Ali was born as Cassius Marcellus Clay. And was generally poor, he also was racially segregated. Some people wouldn’t give him water because of his skin color, this becomes more important later. Ali once got his bike stolen by a punk white kid, after he and a police officer (who was also a boxing coach) caught the punk Ali said he was going to beat him up, the officer said he needed to learn how to box first. Initially Ali declined but then gave in wanting fame and fortune.

From there he began his amateur career he started in 1954 where he beat up other amateurs and won multiple golden glove titles and, eventually, a gold medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics, his amateur career score was 100 wins 5 losses. After this he began his professional career. Starting in 1960, by1963 he was undefeated and then, after beating Sonny Liston became the youngest person to win the title from another boxer. From here Ali reigned as the heavyweight champion but then, because of his opposition to the Vietnam War he was denied permission to fight.

This is where he becomes the greatest morally. He has stated that war is against the teachings of the Quran (he was Muhammad Ali at this point) and continued this stance and did not box for 3 years. Over that time his stance grew more popular as more people fought against the Vietnam War. And eventually put on an FBI watch list for his efforts. Ali was very conscious of his religion and, despite having originally been part of the Nation of Islam he converted to Sunni Islam. Also many speculate that when he said I am the greatest he meant that Muhammad and Ali are the greatest.

After the war he still retained his champion title but lost it to Joe Frazier but then won it back again later on and still retained it until his last few fights. Which he lost, many speculate because of early Parkinson’s disease. On June 3^rd 2016 Ali died at the age of 75. He is still considered an American icon to this day.

Tulsi Supports Sufi and Inclusive Islam – by Ali Abbas Taj

If one wants to examine the absurd lengths as to where the PC Police have taken us, one needs to go no further than the misrepresentation of Rep (D) Tulsi Gabbard as an Islamophobe! This is the same war veteran and Congresswoman who has advocated AGAINST the regime change policies in Iraq, Syria and Libya – all Muslim majority countries.

Simply talking about extremism within some sections of the Muslim Community does not make one an Islamophobe. Congresswoman Tulsi does not adopt broad bush tactics. Her discourse is clear, nuanced and to the point. I would know since I am a Muslim. Rep Gabbard’s statements in favour of Muslims who sacrificed their lives for speaking out against extremism is a testament to her sincerity and support to the Larger Muslim community.

Few have spoken as clearly and as passionately in support of slain Sufi virtuoso Amjad Sabri as Rep Tulsi has! Therefore it is absurd to call her an “Islamophobe” when she has been more sincere to the moderate Muslim cause – as opposed to Gulf-funded propagandists who want to stifle debate on (Saudi-sponsored) extremism that is now being spread through US and European mosques!

All Muslims are not extremists. We are a diverse and heterogenous faith like any other. However, there are a sub-sub sect like the Wahhabis and Deobandis that have been responsible for the attacks on our homeland since 1993! that do have a disproportionate monopoly on faith based violence at the global level. Calling out their pronounced and predominant exclusivist and intolerant ideology does not make one an “Islamophobe”.

American Muslims are lucky to have some like Tulsi in Congress who has publically opposed regime change intervention in Muslim majority countries. Let’s support her as opposed to making absurb and unfounded correlations

IFUT Letter to Rabbis Adlerstein & Cooper of the Simon Wiesenthal Center

Dear Rabbi Adlerstein and Rabbi Cooper,

I would like to take this opportunity to initiate a dialogue with you that could lead to greater mutual understanding. At IFUT, we are aiming to challenge existing narratives and evolve newer narratives whose goal is to foster pluralistic societies with a greater understanding and appreciating of different beliefs and faiths. We strive to challenge politically correct and prevalent narratives that are not getting us any closer aside from mouthing empty slogans and platitudes.

Towards this end, I would like to stress on our shared heritage. As Shia Muslims, we have been marginalized and persecuted by other Muslims empires and caliphates through the ages in the same way that Jews were victimized in Europe. The charge of Blood libel against Jews in Medieval Europe i.e. the disgusting allegation that Jews ate and drank the blood of Christian children is the same allegation that is made against Shias by Deobandi extremist groups like the Sipah Sahaba.

The hatred against Shia Muslims is infused with Anti-Semitism and Shias are historically accused of being fifth columnist, founded by a Jewish convert. This dual anti-Shia/anti Jewish propaganda is absurd because all Muslims were converts! Nonetheless, this fusion of Jewish and Shia hatred by extremists highlights that conversely, we must confront such hatred with dialogue.

My country of origin, Pakistan at the time of its creation in 1947 had a Jewish population estimated to be 2000. Their gradual migration has been a loss to Pakistani society’s diverse fabric. That is why I feel political differences between countries should never be used to foster xenophobia against national and ethnic groups. One such example is the xenophobia against Jews, which is based on differences with Israel’s policies.

It is time we move away from these cynical tactics and adopt the bolder and morally correct position of dialogue and understanding. As we move past slogans of exclusivism and destruction towards dialogues of commonality, we can make meaningful progress and engage in genuine interfaith dialogue.

Sincerely

Ali Taj

Director

Interfaith Unity for Tolerance